VRCA

OUR ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Victorian Regional Channels Authority (VRCA) began operations on 1 April 2004. VRCA manages the commercial navigation of the channels in Geelong and Hastings port waters and oversee the channel management for the Port of Portland. The Authority was established by the Victorian Government under the Port Management Act 1995 and the Transport Integration Act 2010.

VRCA's key responsibilities include:

Management of shipping control

Provision of navigation aids

Channel management

Marine environment protection

Safety and security

Tidal Gauge - Now Online

Tidal information is very important for deeply loaded ships accessing the port. The depth of water under the ship's keel is dependent on the height of tide. VRCA has installed new, state-of-the-art tide gauges at both ends of the channel to ensure that accurate information is available in real-time for all ships. In addition, the tide gauge installations include anemometers to measure wind direction and force.

Tide and wind information is displayed on screens in the VRCA main office and the Geelong Port Marine Control.

Both AIS and Tide Gauges are an element of the VRCA's policy to minimise the risks associated with shipping in the Geelong channels.